Bell Wins the First Race of the Playoffs in the Truck Series at New Hampshire

LOUDON, NH – RIS – Christopher Bell proved he was the class of the field in the Truck Series during the regular season. With the first round of the playoff races completed at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Bell proved again that he'll be the driver to beat for the championship during the running of the UNOH 175.

Bell, the top-seeded driver in the playoff field, passed Ryan Truex with 15 laps left and pulled away to win the NASCAR Trucks race on Saturday to put an explanation point to the season.

Bell earned an automatic spot in the next playoff round. The Kyle Busch Motorsports driver led 73 laps, won his fifth race of the season and was the only playoff driver to finish in the top five, giving him an advantage early in the races that will determine the season champion.

"I knew it was tough to pass all day, but our truck had been so good we hadn't been able to do it until we got to him," Bell said. "I kept trying to work down, and he kept blocking my air down and down and down. Finally, I got one run where I drove up in [turns] one and two and then got a big run into three."

The 22-year-old Bell was easily the top representative of the Truck playoff field that didn't have another driver finish in the top five. Playoff drivers held spots 6 through 11.

Todd Gilliland was third, Grant Enfinger was fourth, followed by Stewart Friesen in fifth with Matt Crafton in sixth, followed by Ben Rhodes, Austin Cindric, Johnny Sauter, Kaz Grala and Chase Briscoe. John Hunter Nemechek finished 20th and was the worst finisher among the playoff drivers.

The series heads to Las Vegas next week for the second race in the playoffs.